Anti-immigrant Activist in Utah Government Identified as source of illegal immigrant list

SALT LAKE - At a press conference on Friday, Utah Governor Gary Herbert discussed a state investigation into the source of a list of alleged illegal immigrants circulated to media outlets and law enforcement offices.

Herbert called the action of the people who generated and sent the list "deplorable" and "unfortunate." Herbert explained that the investigation involves Utah Department of Workforce Services employees and at least two state employees may have been responsible for compiling and distributing an illegal list containing the names and personal information of 1,300 people who, the senders charged, are illegal immigrants and should be deported immediately.

Herbert did not identify the individuals involved as the investigation was "ongoing" but commented that the results of the investigation would to be turned over to Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General.

The Department of Workforce Service employees have been placed on leave, In their position, they have access to a database containing information matching that on the list. There could be more state employees involved. Officials stated that the investigation is ongoing.

The list was sent to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Salt Lake City this April. It was redistributed this week adding morel names and sent to Utah lawmakers, news organizations and police chiefs. The anti-immigrant list senders called themselves Concerned Citizens of the United States and insisted that authorities start deportation proceeding for people on the list.

The list included addresses, Social Security numbers and incredibly whether some women were pregnant and expected date of birth. According to Utah Atty. Gen. Mark L. Shurtleff "Most likely both federal and state privacy laws may have been violated

Author: Arthur LewisArthur Lewis is a independent journalist who has written for periodicals in the U.S., Canada, England and Australia. His interests are varied and he is currently "following the waves" in Hawaii.